Cigarette case and ejector



Nov. 29, 1949 G, KEgSEL 2,489,647

CIGARETTE CASE AND EJECTOR Filed Feb. 27, 1947 2 Shets-Sfieet 1 INVENTOR. 29 e44 BY 5 ATTORNEY Nov. 29, 1949 G. KESSEL 2,489,647

CIGARETTE CASE AND EJEC'IOR Filed Feb. 27, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Nov. 29, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,489,647 CIGARETTE CASE AND EJECTOR Gary Kessel, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application February 27, 1947, Serial No. 731,352

. 4 Claims. 1

This invention relates to new and useful im provements in cigarette containers and dispensers.

While the invention may be used for storing, and dispensing one at a time, various kinds of articles thus to be delivered, the invention has been made particularly with the idea of providing an attractive and intriguingly yet dependably operating dispenser for such articles as cigarettes, which are of large perimetral dimension and friction-affording circumferential area compared to their very light weight.

A heretofore troublesome problem solved by the present invention results from the desirability of having a plurality of cigarettes horizontally carried in a storage receptacle on a floor therein downwardly inclined toward the dispensing mechanism, and along which floor the cigarettes are intended to roll or endwisely slide in such manner that on every actuation of the dispensing mechanism one cigarette will always surely lie as required in the field of operation of said mechanism.

A feature of the invention, therefore, is the provision of a means dependably operating in timed relation with other parts of the dispensing mechanism, for acting on the cigarettes while they are indiscriminately piled on said inclined floor, so that preparatory to each dispensing the piling of the cigarettes is modified when necessary to bring about a disposition of the, cigarettes, and particularly of a few of those then most adjacent to the dispensing mechanism, such that, in every case, one cigarette, and merely one, will positively be advanced for pick up by parts of the dispensing mechanism provided to present the cigarette vertically up-ended at a final location for manual removal.

A further feature of the invention is the avoidance of the use of a container having telescopic an outer box with a hinged lid or cover, and an inner box within which the cigarettes are stored, and which inner box travels upward in the outer box when said cover is raised and travels downward in the outer box when said cover is closed.

A further feature of the invention is that the dispensing mechanism, in its entirety, has some of its working parts carried by the inner box and a way to make for maximum economy of manufacture of the device, and yet to insure a secure final grip, that is, a grip other than a mere frictional one, on the cigarette whenthe latter has been brought to final location for manual re,- moval. In this connection, a further feature of the invention is that said positive grip is a loose one, to permit easy manual removal of the cigarette, yet the cigaretteis embraced all around by the equivalent of a ring structure instead of being independently held by being merely jammed or wedged in place at its location for manual removal.

Still another feature of the invention is a combination of parts such that a strikingly attractive cigarette dispenser of the novelty class is provided, and one, moreover, in which the presence of the novelty feature is normallyv concealed, and exhibited only incidental to the dispensing of a cigarette, which advantage is made possible by the inner and outer box combination characteristic of the invention. o

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawing, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

, manual removal of the latter.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the inner box.

Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse section, taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section, taken on the line 55 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a vertical transverse section, taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. l, but with the lid of the inner box omitted; this view also showing said inner box elevated, and also indicating in dot and dash lines a typically distributed group of cigarettes in the inner box, it being noted that one of the cigarettes, that at the extreme left, is now on a. support special to it.

Fig. '7 is a View similar to Fig. 6, but showing an early part of the next subsequent descent of the inner box, with the next cigarette to be dispensed partly upended. I

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary vertical longitudinal section, taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. '1, showing the cigarette last-mentioned arranged as in Fig. '7.

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 6, but showing the inner box as subsequently returned to its lowermost position, showing the cigarette last mentioned now upright on its special support.

Fig. 10 is a Vertical longitudinal section, taken on the line ll].-I of Fig. 2, showing a cigarette as finally disposed (as in Fig. 1) for manual removal on each ascent of the inner box.

The cigarette container and dispenser according to the present invention, includes an outer box l and an inner box I6.

The outer box IE has a cover ll, hinged at i8, for normally closing the outer box as shown in Fig. 1. This box has a front wall l9, a rear wall 20, end walls 2| and 22, and a floor wall 23.

The inner box l6 has a front wall it, a rear wall 25, and end walls and 2?. Somewhat above the bottom of l the inner box there is a downwardly forwardlyinclined spill wall 28 for carrying a plurality of cigarettes 29 to be stored in'this box. Byway of example, ten such cigarettes, seen in end elevation, are indicated in dot and dash-lines in Fig. 6. The same ten cigarettes are shown in Figs. "1' and 9, but with only nine of them seen in end elevation.

The inner box-l6 hasa removable top cover 33 overlying said inclined wall 28, which cover may be either hingedly -mounted,- as for instance to a pair of blocks 3i at thetwo rear upper corners of the inner box, or: otherwise made liftable, for replenishing thecigarettes stored in this box on its spill wall 28. Ashere shown, however, the cover 30 is arranged to rest-merely by gravity on the top edges of walls 25, 26 and 21 of the inner box, but being restrained against horizontal shift by engagement of notches at the two rear corners of said cover with the blocks 3|, and by engagement of a portion of the front edge of said cover with a block 32 associated-with the dispensing mechanism and seen perhaps most clearly in Fig. 2; The cover an is provided with an upstanding finger-piece 33-whereby it may be readily lifted when required.

For lifting the inner box 1 6 each time the cover if of the outer box i5 is raised, and for lowering the inner box each time said cover IT is dropped to close the outer box, curved links 34 arepivotally mounted at their upper ends on the cover H as best shown at35-in Fig 2. The lower ends ofthese links are extended down through cutaway side portions of the cover 30 and into vertical grooves 36 in the ends walls of the inner box I6, where said links are slidably pivotally connected to the inner box by way of staple-like mountings 31, see Fig. 2.

The dispensing mechanism in part includes, in addition to the block 32, which is here shown as carrying a manikin 38, a minor cover 39 for the inner box. This minor cover is pivoted at opposite ends along its front portion as indicated at 40 (Figs. 3 and-4) and adjacent the manikin 38 the cover 39 has a rounded end portion 39 Spanning the upper portion of the interior of the inner box [6 and with its top edge below the rear marginal portion of the flap 39 when the latter is in normal or horizontal disposition, is a relatively thin vertical partition wall 41. This wall 4| has its bottom edge 42 beveled at its i ne id The horizontal spacing between the front side of the partition wall 4| and the inner side of the front wall 24 of the inner box is a trifle more than the standard diameter of the ordinary cigarette, thus providing a compartment 43 (Fig. 5), topped by the minor cover 39, through which a cigarette being dispensed is moved to an upright position as will be later explained. Cut vertically through the block 32 and a vertically elongated block 44 directly therebelow is a half round groove 45 shown cross sectionally in Fig. 5; the bottom of said block 44, terminating at about the level of the lower edge of the partition wall 4|.

The inner box also carries, spaced some distance below the bottom of groove 45, a small platform 46 as will be noted particularly in Figs. 4, 5 and 10.

Rigidly mounted on the floor wall 23 of the outer box I5 is ablgck 41 in the form of a vertically upstanding wall with parallel front and rear wall surfaces. Said block is of a width and height best shown in Figs. 2 and 19, and of a thickness such that, as seen in Fig. 9, the block is fairly snugly sleeved-by the compartment 43 (Fig. 5) when the cover I! of the outer box is lowered to cause the inner box 15 .to descend to its lowermost position in the outer box.

Somewhat to they rear of the block 41, and also rigidly mounted on the fioorwall 23 of the outer box, is another block 48. While the rear wall surface of this block is vertical, it has a front wall surface which is downwardly forwardly inclined. Cut in the spill Wall 28- of the inner box is a slot 49, which receives the block. 48. when the inner box is lowered allthe way down into the outer box.

Thus, at the endof each full downward travel of the inner box, the blocks 41 and 48 are arranged relative to the upper wall 28 of the inner box as shown in Fig. 9. Usually, there will then be two cigarettes between the block 48 and the partition 4!, and-with said cigarettes arranged as shown at 53 and 54 in Fig. 9.

The operation is as follows:

Assume, with the parts arranged as shown in Figs. 2 and 10, thatthe inner box It has been elevated for either of two possible purposes; that is, either manually to remove a cigarette previously brought to up-ended position for dispensing as shownin these views, or to replenish the inner box with cigarettes 29 by disposing such cigarettes on the spill wall 28.

In'the former case, as soon as said'up-ended cigarette is manually removed, or in the latter case, immediately thecigarettes 29'are deposited on the spill wall 28 one of the cigarettes will roll off the. bottom forward end of the spill wall 2-8 and come to rest horizontally on the top ofthe block 41, as shown in the case of the cigarette 5-2 in Fig. 6. The person replenishingthe stock of cigarettes will, of'ceurse, see to'it that all the cigarettes 29 will be laid down in substantially parallel relation.-

As the inner box next commences a descent incidental to first lowering the cover I? of the outer box, the cigarette 52 rocked upwardly in the compartment 43,- as shown in Figs. 7 and 8. Such swingof the cigarette from the horizontal toward the vertical results from the fact that the block-H is now pushing upwardly on the cigarette {"32 to cause a poi t on the latter, adjacent to the end thereoi which is above the platform 46, to engage the bottom of the block 4.4- t s fo ow n en a ement th t h are commen es itsrqc ina the left hand nd 0f he ci ar. tie as s en i win n in a clockwise direction until the cigarette is deposited vertically in the groove 45 (Figs. 5 and 8). Y

Somewhat before the cigarette reaches its vertical up-ending as shown in Fig. 9, its upper end strikes the under surface of the minor cover 39 and raises that cover as shown in this view. The cigarette 52 is held, until the next ascent of the inner box it due to raising the cover of the outer box !5; whereupon the manikin 38, and the cigarette 52 now apparently heldby it, are displayed as in Figs. 2 and 10, and the cigarette is presented for manual removal. However, before the inner box is fully lowered, and about the time the upper end of the cigarette 52 is fairly close to the groove so almost into the arms of the manikin 38, the upper end oi the cigarette, as it slides along the upraised minor cover 39, comes opposite the curved end 39 of the minor cover, and, said end 3i] means, snaps the cigarette into the groove 45; and thereupon the minor cover 39 drops again to normal horizontal position as shown in Figs. 2 and 10.

. Thus, when a cigarette is brought to its upended position, as a result of inner box i6 descending all the way down into the outer box :5, and subsequently, until following the next ascent of the inner box'that cigarette is dispensingly presented in moval, and further until said cigarette is manually removed, it is positively held upright and in the groove :35, by a girthing ring-like arrangement of parts including the block 32 and by that portion cover 39, which, near one of the pivots s0, is substantially at right angles to the length of the flap. v

The cigarette is held loosely, for ready manual removal but, nevertheless, it is positively held upright from the movement which swings it to upright position, untilon the next opening of the outer box l5, that cigarette is raised with the inner box and so to'dispensing location.

Then, and on manual removal of the cigarette, the entire length of the compartment 43 at its bottom is opened to a second cigarette, and the latter drops 01? the lower forward end of the spill wall 28 onto the block 41, so that on the next ascent of the inner box, the last mentioned cigarette will be up-ended and held vertical until subsequent manual removal, all as described above in connection with the cigarette 52.

On each ascent and descent of the inner box It, the block 48, in coaction with the slot d9 of the spill wall 28, performs an important function in connection with the dispensing of such elongate articles as cigarettes, and particularly when the elongate articles dispensed are cigarettes. For one thing, incidental to each downward movement of the inner box the pile 29 of cigarettes is joggled, so that any cigarette which happens to fall into a position out of substantial parallelism with the other cigarettes is straightened out. This joggling' also tends to prevent piling up so many cigarettes just below the lower end of partition 4| to jam a cigarette in a position such that it is prevented from passing onto the top of block 41. Also, if the last cigarette of the supply of cigarettes on spill wall 28 should happen to be distorted so as to become caught intermediate its ends by the front long edge of slot As, the cigarette will be engaged by the block 48 and thrust clear of the slot, so that said cigarette will descend to the lower front end 45 in the block 46 and acting on the cigarette as a camming up-ended position for manual reof the rounded end 39 of the minor 6 of spill wall 28', and hence be ready, at the proper instant, to drop onto the top of block 41.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. A cigarette dispensing device, comprising an outer box having a hinged cover at one side thereof, an inner box vertically slidable within said outer box, an inclined bottom wall within said inner box having its lower end spaced from one side wall of said inner box, a vertical partition wall spaced from said one side wall forming a delivery slot for a single cigarette, said partition wall cooperating with said inclined bottom wall to form a compartment for a plurality of cigarettes to be dispensed and having its bottom edge spaced from the bottommost edge of said-inclined wall a distance equal to the diameter of a single cigarette forming a discharge opening leading from said compartment, a vertical block fixedly mounted within said outer box in vertical alignment with said delivery slot to enter said delivery slot in the lowered position of said inner box" and being of a height to have its top end disposed slightly below said discharge opening when said inner box is raised to receive a cigarette from said compartment, a second block secured within the delivery slot at one end thereof to be engaged by the end of cigarette resting on the top end of said vertical block when said inner box is lowered to turn the cigarette to a vertical position, and a link pivotally connecting said cover to said inner box to cause said inner box to be raised when said cover is raised and said inner box to be lowered when said cover is lowered.

2. A cigarette dispensing device, comprisin an outer box having a hinged cover at one side thereof, an inner box vertically slidable within said outer box, an inclined bottom wall within said inner box having its lower end spaced from one slde wall of said inner box, a vertical partition wall spaced from said one side wall forming a delivery slot for a single cigarette, said partition wall cooperating with said inclined bottom wall to form a compartment for a plurality of cigarettes to be dispensed and having its bottom edge spaced from the bottommost edge of said inclined wall a distance equal to the diameter of a single cigarette forming a discharge opening leading from said compartment, a vertical block fixedly mounted within said outer box in vertical alignment with said delivery slot to enter said delivery slot in the lowered position of said inner box and being of a height to have its top end disposed slightly below said discharge opening when said inner box is raised to receive a cigarette from said compartment, a second block secured within the delivery slot at one end thereof to be engaged by the end of cigarette resting on the top end of said vertical block when said inner box is lowered to turn the cigarette to a vertical position, a link pivotally connecting said cover to said inner box to cause said inner box to be raised when said cover is raised and said inner box to be lowered when said cover is lowered, and a minor cover hingedly supported on said inner box to close said delivery slot, whereby the cigarette will pivot said minor cover to its-open position whenr pivoted to its vertical position.

3; A cigarette-dispensing device, comprisingan outer box havingwhinged cover atone side thereof, an inner box vertically slidable' within said outer box, an inclined bottom wallwithin said inner box-having: its lower endspacedirom one side. wall of said inner box, a vertical. partition Wall spaced from said one-side wall"forming.a delivery slot for a single cigarette, said partition wall cooperating with said inclined bottomwall to form a compartment for a plurality of:.cigarettes to be dispensed and. having its bottom: edge spacedifrom the bottommostedge of said inclined wall a distance equal toithe diameters of a single cigarette forming. a j. discharge opening leading from said compartmenta' vertical blockfixedly mounted within said-outer box in vertical alignment with said delivery slot'to enter said delivery slot in the loweredpositiongof -saidinner box and being of a heightto'have. its top end disposed slightly below said'discharge opening when said inner boxis raisedto receive a cigarettefrom said compartment, a second'blocksecured within'the delivery slot at one end thereof to be engaged by the end of cigarette restingon the top end of said vertical block whensaidinner box is lowered to turn the cigaretteto a vertical position, and a link pivotally connecting said cover to said inner box to-cause said inner box-to be raised when said cover is raised andsaid inner box to be lowered when said cover islowered, and a manikin mounted on said secondblock and-having spaced simulated outstretched arms: directed. toward said delivery slot to receive and hold the cigarette when pivoted to its vertical position.

4. A cigarette dispensing device, comprising an outer box having a. hinged cover at one side thereof, an inner boxv vertically slidable within said outerv box, aninclined bottomwall within said inner box having its lower end-spaced from one side wall of said inner box, a vertical partition wall spaced from saidaone side: wall forming a delivery slot for a single cigarette, said partition wall cooperating, with said inclined bottom wall to" form a: compartment for: aplurality of cigarettes to be dispensed and having its bottom edge spaced from the bottommost edge ofsaid-inclined wall a distance equal to. the'diameterv of a single. cigaretteiorming a discharge opening leading from said compartment, a vertical block' fixedly mounted within said outer box in vertical alignment with said delivery slot to enter said delivery slot in the lowered-position of said inner box and bein of a height to have its top end'disposed slightly below said discharge opening when said inner box is raised to receive acigarette from saidcompartmenma second block secured within the delivery slot at one end thereof to be engaged by the end of cigarette resting on the top end of said vertical block-whensaid inner box is lowered to turn the cigarette to a vertical position, and a link pivotally connecting saidcover to-said inner box to. cause said inner box'to be raised when said cover is. raised andsaid inner box to be lowered when said cover is lowered, and a-manikin mounted on said second block and having spaced simulated outstretched arm directed toward said delivery slot to receive and hold the cigarette when pivoted to its vertical position, and means on said inner box for forcing the vertically raised cigarette into position between the adjacent faces of said outstretched arms.

GARY. KESSEL- REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name. Date 1,135,133 Pacheco Apr. 13, 1915 1,715,104 Simpson May 28, 1929 2,083,465 Mayer June 8, 1937 2,253,793 Leimer Aug. 26, 1941 2,346,863 Pacione Apr. 18, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 389,104 Germany 1924 

